Amidst great anticipation, the first variety show Lu Wen joined after her return finally premiered.

True to form, the production team were masters of the surprise visit. Before six o’clock that morning, the crew had already appeared in Lu Wen’s residential complex.

The director, full of energy, announced, "Good morning, everyone! Welcome to Lu Wen and Jin Xi’s livestream. We’re on our way to Lu Wen’s home right now. I wonder if she’s woken up yet..."

"Wow, so many people in the chat already! You’re all up so early..."

"Whoa, look at that handsome silhouette over there. Is he training his dog?" the director commented. They were just passing a field, and his eyes were drawn to the man and dog in the distance.

In the faint light of dawn, it was hard to see clearly. They could only make out the man’s sturdy back. He wasn’t overtly muscular, but his figure was captivating all the same. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Alright, let’s not disturb them. We’re heading to Lu Wen’s place now!" the director announced, and the cameraman stopped filming the person working out.

They found Lu Wen’s apartment without any trouble. Just as the director was about to knock, a voice came from behind them. "Are you... looking for someone?"

Everyone turned in unison to see a man holding the leash of a German Shepherd standing behind them. He was dressed in simple workout clothes with a towel draped around his neck. Though he was fully covered, his excellent physique was still on full display.

"Hello, we’re with Lu Wen’s camera crew. You must be her husband, Mr. Jin Xi?" The director’s reaction was lightning-fast. The moment Jin Xi spoke, the cameraman had already aimed the lens at him.

"Yes, that’s me." A small smile touched Jin Xi’s lips. "Please, come in. Lu Wen usually doesn’t wake up until eight, so if you could be quiet, I’d appreciate it."

He opened the door and let them in. First, Jin Xi carefully wiped his large dog’s paws before telling the crew, "Make yourselves comfortable. I’m just going to the restroom."

The director glanced surreptitiously at the large dog lying quietly on the living room rug. "He... doesn’t bite, does he?"

"He doesn’t bite. Little Leopard is a retired military dog; he’s very gentle." Jin Xi patted Little Leopard’s head. "I’m going to go change. Excuse me."

The moment Jin Xi appeared on camera, the livestream chat exploded with activity. To be honest, a man with his looks was bound to make a good impression. With his sharp brows, bright eyes, and tall, elegant bearing, it seemed as if every flattering adjective in the book could apply to him.

It’s not like Lu Wen was dead to the world; of course she heard the commotion outside. Besides, with Tan You’s reminder, there was no way she could stay in her room and keep sleeping. So, she grabbed a set of loungewear, and just as Jin Xi was coming out of the guest restroom, Lu Wen pushed her own door open.

Jin Xi casually tossed his towel onto the bathroom counter and closed the distance to Lu Wen in a few strides. "Still sleepy?"

Lu Wen covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned, then leaned against Jin Xi’s shoulder like a big cat. "Mhm, I heard the noise. You all came way too early. The director didn’t even give us a heads-up."

Jin Xi gently ruffled her hair. "I’ll start on breakfast. Why don’t you go back to sleep for a bit? It’ll be a little while."

"No, I can’t. It wouldn’t be right to leave everyone just standing around." Lu Wen patted her cheeks. "I’m going to go wash up. Wait for me."

Jin Xi followed her into the bathroom. "What do you want for breakfast?"

Lu Wen replied, "Something simple is fine. Director Li said we need to assemble before noon, and we still have to pack. What about Little Leopard? Should we take him with us? Would that be okay?"

Jin Xi said, "I’ve already arranged it with Old Du. We’ll drop Little Leopard off at his place for the next few days and pick him up when we get back."

Lu Wen nodded. "That works. We still need to pack Little Leopard’s things. Does Old Du have supplies for him?"

"He does. Old Du has a dog too, so he’s not short on supplies," Jin Xi said with a low chuckle. "I’ll go make breakfast. You take your time; there’s no rush. I packed our bags last night, so just take a look and see if you’re missing anything."

"I doubt it. You’re always so thorough," Lu Wen mumbled. Jin Xi, who was in an excellent mood, gave a playful tug on the bunny ears of her pajamas. "Come out for breakfast in a bit."

As Jin Xi went into the kitchen, the cameraman kept the camera focused on him. He also took on the role of interviewer. "Mr. Jin, how did you and Sister Wen meet?"

"Everyone is very curious about your relationship."

After putting a pot of water on to boil, Jin Xi smiled. "It was fate, really. Before the New Year, Lu Wen was attending an awards ceremony, and a friend of mine happened to be in charge of the event’s security."

"He was swamped, and I happened to have the day off, so Old Du roped me into helping out." His gaze was gentle. "We met after that. It was just a fortunate coincidence."

The cameraman couldn’t contain his curiosity. "So between you and Sister Wen, who was more forward?"

"I was, I suppose," Jin Xi admitted candidly. "I’d never really thought about what kind of person I would meet. It wasn’t until I met her that I realized how wonderful the world is—that there’s someone out there who is a perfect match for you in every way."

Lu Wen came out from washing up and took a seat at the kitchen counter. "It’s not like we were a perfect match from day one. We went through plenty of adjustments, but we both understand the importance of being patient with each other."

Jin Xi picked up where she left off. "We’re considerate of each other and take care of one another."

The moment Lu Wen appeared, the cameraman got excited. "Sister Wen, everyone’s curious why you chose Mr. Jin. I mean, Mr. Jin is an excellent man, but..."

"It wasn’t so much a ’choice’ as it was a fateful encounter. We just clicked," Lu Wen said pragmatically. "Besides, his family has a wonderful, warm atmosphere, which is something I really admire."

"My parents divorced when I was young. They both started new families, and no one really had time for me." Lu Wen was completely frank as she spoke about her past. "I longed for a warm home and a responsible partner, and Jin Xi fulfilled all of those needs for me."

"He’s a man of action, not just words. He’s completely honest with me and never keeps any secrets."

"He makes me feel secure, and his family makes me feel a sense of warmth. That’s more than enough."

"The first time I went to his house for dinner, his parents were so welcoming, and his grandparents were so kind and loving. His family also has a strong moral compass; all the couples are responsible partners."

Jin Xi lowered his gaze and smiled. ’He knew the reasons Lu Wen was with him. One, she was attracted to his face and his body. Two, his history of military service. And three, his family.’

The cameraman mulled that over. "So you’re with him for those reasons? Not because of who Mr. Jin is as a person?"

"Of course not. If I hadn’t liked him as a person first, I never would have bothered to learn about his past or his family." Lu Wen glanced at Jin Xi. "I understand everyone’s questions. It must seem like my approach to love is overly rational."

"There’s a saying, ’When you buy a pig, you check its pen first,’" Lu Wen offered, using a rather blunt metaphor. "But a relationship is a part of life, so it’s only right to be rational about it. The initial romance is what gets you together, but a long-term life of companionship depends on both people’s character and their family backgrounds."